DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-ray Review: The Changeling
George C. Scott is one a few actors who managed to have a successful career which spanned several decades. He received his first Oscar nomination for his role in Anatomy of a Murder in 1959. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Patton in 1970, which he refused, and was also up for …
Film Review: The Senator
Whilst it’s a truism that Americans like their politics, they absolutely adore their political dynasties. The Clintons are the latest in a line of families who have coveted the most powerful seat in the country. However, whilst the Bush clan are their closest recent competitors, it will forever be the Kennedys who inspire such love …
Blu-ray Review: Tideland
2018 will go down as a landmark in the history of cinema. Finally, after so many false starts and aborted attempts, we’ll be able to see The Man Who Killed Don Quixote on the big screen. It’s a film Terry Gilliam has been trying to make since 1989. There have been countless close calls over …
Blu-Ray Review: Bagdad Café
One of the most compelling and consistent motifs to be found in cinema is that of the fish out of water. It’s a premise which works particularly well in comedies. The likes of Back to the Future, Enchanted, Pleasantville, Big, The Gold Rush and The Jerk all use the notion of a person thrown into …
Blu-ray Review: Flesh + Blood
Paul Verhoeven has built up a reputation for courting controversy and being prepared to challenge and shock his audiences. His willingness to mix violence, sex and social satire has resulted in some extremely memorable moments. Whilst his work has spanned several genres, it’s in science fiction where he’s left his greatest mark. Robocop, Total Recall …
Blu-Ray Review: Birdman of Alcatraz
After watching Birdman of Alcatraz, you might be surprised to discover that Burt Lancaster’s performance didn’t get rewarded with an Oscar. On further investigation, 1963 was a special year for male leads. Gregory Peck eventually prevailed and picked-up the gong for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird. The other nominees were Peter O’Toole (Lawrence …
Blu-Ray Review: Journeyman
With an array of impressive performances over the last two decades, Paddy Considine has proved himself to be one of Britain’s finest, most versatile and consistent acting talents. Some of his most memorable roles include Dead Man’s Shoes, My Summer of Love, 24 Hour Party People and Hot Fuzz. His first outing behind the camera, …
Blu-ray Review: The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey
When Ridley Scott produced a new standard for science-fiction film-making with the release of Alien in 1979, I don’t think anyone could have foreseen where the franchise would end-up. After the action horror of Aliens, it took a rather leftfield step. Alien 3 had familiar elements but went in a totally unexpected direction. Much of …
Blu-Ray Review: Footsteps in the Fog
Around the period either side of the Second World War, the environmental conditions in London proved conducive to a rather niche kind of film drama. The combination of severe pollution and adverse weather conditions periodically resulted in a dense fog which cast its pall over the capital. This culminated in the Great Smog of 1962 …
DVD Review: Gringo
Whilst the ‘American Dream’ may come in many different shapes and sizes, the common denominator is almost always money. Success is measured by the size of your bank balance. On your holiday destination, zip code or the car you drive. Materialism is the new God. Worship at the altar of Mammon. The depths some people …